Only in New York

Waiting on walkies on Park Avenue. 1:00 PM. Photo: JH.

Friday, September 29, 2017. A very warm, humid day, yesterday in New York, that by the time of this writing (11:30 p.m.), the temperature had dropped from the high 70s to the mid-60s with a strong cool breeze rustling through the trees. Weatherman says it’s going to be more like that for the next week.

First signs of fall in Central Park. 4:00 PM. Photo: JH.

The day. I went down to Michael’s to lunch with Lauren Veronis who is a longtime supporter of The Cancer Research Institute (CRI) which is the world’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the immune system’s power to conquer all cancers. This work has led to a new class of cancer treatments called cancer immunotherapy. These treatments mobilize, strength and sustain the immune system’s natural ability to destroy cancer cells wherever they are in the body.

Lauren Veronis at a past "Through The Kitchen Party" to Benefit The Irvington Institute Fellowship Program of The Cancer Research Institute.

Mrs. Veronis was introduced to these ideas and concepts in their infancy through an organization called the Irvington Institute which raised funds for medical research. She originated the famous Sunday evening dinner at the old Four Seasons, “Through the Kitchen.” Readers of the NYSD have read about it in the past. She is one of those women who philanthropy into medical research is cutting edge. She said it comes from starting as a young woman wanting to get involved in something important to everyone such as health and medical. Coincidentally she met someone who directed her to Irvington which a few years ago merged with the Cancer Research Institute.

It was one of those nights in New York. Late yesterday afternoon there was a memorial reception for Kenneth Jay Lane at the Metropolitan Museum to which Kenny left a multi-million dollar endowment. Unfortunately Kenny had requested that there be no memorial or eulogies. Which is always too bad for us because the dear departed serve as pleasant reminders, sometimes at just the right moment. Kenny lived his life with appetite and imagination, and made a whole world of it for himself. That will always be missed.

Then at six I went down to Doubles, the club in the Sherry-Netherland where Chris Meigher, the publisher of Quest, and I were hosting the magazine’s annual Quest 400 party. Started several years ago by Chris to publicize the annual 400 issue, it has become a tradition, a habit that’s a pleasure for all. A lot of the same guests come year after year as well as many new ones. It’s a great New York party with those great Doubles hors d’oeuvres, canapes and cocktails. It was good for neighborhood people watching and listening as well as meeting new people, running into old friends, acquaintances, and catching up with the times in our lives. I don’t know if there were 400 there but at one point it was enthusiastically attended (read: mobbed). We’ll show you in pictures on Monday.

Wednesday mid-afternoon, returning home, as the cab turned the corner on to East End Avenue, overlooking the river, I noticed this magnificent cloud formation. A mushroom cloud but pure white and gentle. As soon as I got to my building I grabbed my camera and went down to the river to see if it were still there. And indeed it was. It was interestingly dramatic because of its shape and its mystery, but beautiful and gentle. And the formation remained stationary for quite awhile.

Catching up with going out. Last Monday night, Jamie Creel and Christopher Gow, along with Architectural Digest’s Amy Astley, hosted a book signing for Miguel Flores-Vianna called “Haute Bohemians.” The party was held at Creel & Gow, the very chic emporium of decorative objets on East 70th one door in from Lex. Two things New Yorkers love is meeting people and doing business. Creel and Gow have hosted several of these at their beautiful shop which is also an excellent space for a cocktail party. Away from the drab and into the Up.